Ironing machine



y 28, 1940- A. H. PETERS 2,202,167

IHONING MACHINE Filed Dec. 25, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 5 i T1| e;

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Patented May 28, 1940 v UNITED STATES PATENT orrics 11 Claims. (Cl. 312-27) The invention relates generally to ironing machines and more particularly to an ironing machine of the type in which the ironing mechanism is foldable into and out of a cabinet.

The general object of the invention is to provide an ironing machine in which the ironing mechanism is movable from a vertical position within the cabinet to a horizontal position extending outwardly from the cabinet by an improved and simplified mechanism supporting the ironing mechanism.

A further object is to provide an ironing machine of this character, which is housed in a relatively low and compact cabinet, which has a low center of gravity when closed to avoid any tendency to tip, which requires but little effort to open and close it and tends, when closed, to remain so, and which stands firmly when open.

It is also an object to provide an ironing machine of this character in which the weight of the ironing mechanism is counterbalanced by means having a tendency, when the machine is closed, to hold the mechanism in the closed position within the cabinet.

Another object is to provide a leg for the outer end of the ironing mechanism, automatically movable to and from a supporting pwition upon the opening and closing of the machine.

A further object is to provide, in a machine of this type; a cabinet having a lid which is opened and closed automatically on movement of the ironing mechanism into-or out of the cabinet whereby the cabinet, in height, may be substantially the same as the ironing mechanism and still permit the latter to swing freely into or out of. the cabinet, the means for moving the lid ineluding a lost motion connection to avoid danger of the operator having her fingers pinched by the closing of the lid.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in' connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a machine embodying the features of the invention and-showing the machine in its open or operative position; and with the front wall of the cabinet removed.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the machine in its closed position.

Fig. 3 is also a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the machine part way between the open and closed position.

Fig. 4 is an end or side view of the machine in the closed position but with the door of the cabinet open.

Preferably the end of the table carrying the A machine embodying the features of the invention maybe described briefly as comprising ironing mechanism, indicated generally at It,

carried on a support It and adapted to be swung from a' vertical position within a cabinet, indicated generally at 12, to a horizontal position extending outwardly of the cabinet. The inner end of the support H is carried by meansattached to the cabinet while the outer end is supported by a leg it automatically moved to and from its operative position upon swinging movement of the support.

The cabinet has a door It in one side to provide an opening through which the ironing mechanism and its support may swing, and in order that the cabinet may be of a minimum size for a given size of the ironing mechanism, a wall adjoining said door is movable to provide a greater opening and is moved by means operating upon movement of the ironing mechanism and its support. The weightof the ironing mechanism and its support is counterbalanced by means which also has a tendency, when the parts 'approach the closed position, to move the parts to such position.

As shown in the drawings, the ironing mechanism is shown as comprising an ironing roll l5 extending from a gear housing l6 mounted on one end of the support H which is illustrated in the form of aflat table. Cooperating with the roll it is a shoe (not shown) carried by an arm ll extending from the housing it. To drive the mechanism, a motor 58 is mounted under the table M. This type of ironing mechanism is shown merely for purposes of illustration, but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this particular type.

The ironing mechanism and the table II are adapted to be swung into and out of the c'abinet through the open side having the door l4.

gearing housing I8 is adjacent the cabinet, when in operative position, to allow free access tothe roll l5, and when in inoperative or closed position, said end of the table is the lower end. Thus, when closed, the greater part of the weight is 4 low in the cabinet, as will be noted in Fig. 2, and any danger of the cabinet tipping is avoided. The means for supporting the table for such swinging movement comprises, in the present instance, a pair of links 20 and 2| pivotally attached to the cabinet and .to the table to swing in substantially the same vertical plane.

Thus, the links are pivotally attached tothe inner face or. the front wall of the. cabinet as by pins 22 3 and 23 which are in spaced relation to each other, and to an angular bracket 2| on they underside of the table by pins 25 and 23, which are also in spaced relation to each other but differing in spacing from the spacing of the pins 22 and 23 whereby the links are in non-parallel relation. As will be evident from an inspection of Fig. 1 of the drawings, the motor I3 and the gear housing It constitute the major portion of the weight of the movable parts and consequently the center of gravity of the movable parts is only slightly to the left of the motor and gear housing, as shown in Fig. 1, or closely adjacent the pivot 25, while thepivot 25 is located adjacent the end of the table Washers of suitable thickness are placed on the pins 22, 23, 25 and 26 to permit the links to pass each other in their movement.

With the outer end of the table supported on the leg l3 at the desired level, the links 20 and 2| assume a position whereby the table is rigidly supported against downward movement. Thus, from Fig. 1, it will be noted that, under a downwardiy directed load on the table, the pin 25 would tend to swing downwardly and to the left because of the position of the link 20, and the pin 26 would tend to swing downwardly and to the right because of the position of the link 2|. Since the pins 25 and 26 both are secured to the bracket 24, one pincannot swing to the left and the other to the right. The links 20 and 2| therefore rigidly support the table in the position shown in Fig. 1, and the table can only be moved by lifting the outer end to tilt it and thus fold it into the cabinet.

When the table is moved into its folded or closed position as shown in Fig. 2, the inner or lower edge of the table rests on the base of the cabinet, indicated at 21, thereby relieving the links 2|! and 2| of substantially all of the load and firmly seating the table. To prevent marring said inn r, or lower edge, a pad 23, suchas a strip of rubber, may be placed on the base 21 to receive'the edge of the table.

The machine may, if desired, be provided with only one set of links 20 and 2|, but in the preferred form duplicate sets are used, one adjacent the front edge of the table and the other adjacent the rear edge, as will be noted in Fig. 4. The links 20 and 2| are also so arranged that they may be of the same size and shape, thus requiring but one set 01' dies to produce all four of them.

These links, it will be noted, have the combined effect of moving the ironing mechanism and table into andout of the cabinet and also of simultaneously turning said mechanism and table through 90 between the horizontal and vertical positions. Thus, it may be said that one link effects the in-and-out movement and the other link effects the turning movement. For example, the link 2|! may be said to lower the table into the cabinet while the link 2| simultaneously causes the table to turn through 90 about the pivot pin 25. From another point of view, the link 2| may be said to lower the table into the cabinet while the link 20 causes thetable to turn about the pivot pin 25.

One of the prominent features of the invention is the provision of counterbalancing means for the weight of the table and ironing mechanism,

so that no great effort is required to swing the reached its closed position, to complete the closing movement thereof, thereby tending to hold ing means preferably comprises a coiled spring 30 fixedly secured at one end by a pin 3| on a bracket 32 attached to the top wall of the cabinet and at its outer end by a pin 33 on the link 20 intermediate the ends thereof. In the preferred form, two such springs are employed.

It will benoted, from Figs. 1 and 3, that the force exerted by the spring 30 is in such a direction that the links 20 and 2| both tend to swing to the open position. The weight of the moving parts is thus counterbalanced. However, as the parts approach the position shown in Fig. 2, the direction of the force of the spring is such that it tends to move the link 2| to the closed position and approaches a position in alinement with the link 25. For this reason, the spring tends to complete the closing movement and to hold the parts in the closed position.

Another feature of the invention, which is of importance from the practical standpoint, is that the cabinet is compact and has a minimum height. When closed, it may be stored in a closet without occupying a great deal of space or it may remain in a kitchen and, because of its height, serve as a table or the like. It will be noted, in- Fig. 2, that the cabinet is but little higher than the length of the table II and therefore has a minimum height. With such height, a greater opening than that provided. by the door I must be provided because of the path of movement of the outer end of the ironing roll l5, as will be noted in Fig. 3.

The greater opening, in the present instance,

is provided at the-top of the cabinet. Thus, the

top wall has a section 34 provided with a hinge 35 to permit a greater opening. The hinge 35 is preferably formed on the lower face of the top wall to provide a smooth upper face suitable for use as a table top. In the present .instance, the section 34 is raised automatically and in such a manner that it is closed both at the open or extended position of the ironing mechanism and at two arms 35 and two links 31 are employed, one

at the front of the cabinet and the other at the rear, to move the section 34 evenly and avoid the chance of bending it out of shape-so that it will "lie flat when closed.

When the section 34 is open, there is the chance that the operator might rest her hand on the upper edge of the front or rear wall, so that the section 34 in closing might pinch her hand. To avoid the danger of such pinching, a lost-motion connection is employed in the means for raising the section 34, comprising a slot 33 in the link 31 in which the pin 39 works. Thus, movement of the arm 36 positively lifts the section 34 but does not force it down into its closed position, thereby avoiding danger of plnching.

The leg I3 is braced-so that it will provide stability when the machine is open, and is fold- -the table in the closed position and adding to i the stability of the machine. The counterbalancto the member 43 and extends toward the inner or lowe end of the table where it is slidably supported as by lugs 45 (see Fig. 4), shown as formed integrally with the bracket 24. The rod 44 normally extends beyond'the inner end of the table and is adapted to abutagainst the base 21 of thecabinet preferably on the rubber pad 28, when the parts approach the closed position, thereby causing the members 42 and 43 to swing relative to each other and to fold the leg i3 flat against the table Ii. To extend the leg upon opening the machine, a coiled spring 66 (see Fig. 4) is placed on the rod 45, and bears at one end against one of the lugs and at its other end against a washer 47 secured on the rod. Thespring 46 thus causes the rod to move to the right, asviewed in Fig. l, and thereby opens or extends the leg l3.

The door i4 the cabinet is preferably hinged so that it may swing through 270 and stand against the front wall of the cabinet, when open. Racks'50 are placed on the inner face of the door, so that when the door is opened to that position, the racks 58 provide a convenient place to hang articles after being ironed.

In moving the ironing mechanism from the closed position shown in Fig. 2 to open position shown in Fig. 1, the door i4 is opened, and the upper edge of the table is grasped and pulled outwardly. Such movement of the table causes the links 20 and ii to swing and the top section 34 is automatically raised to provide clearance for the movement of the ironing roll it. As soon as the table is lifted off the base 2'! of the cabinet, the spring 46 on the rod 64 causes the members 42 and 43.to swing the leg l3 to its operative position. By the time the parts attain their open position, the top section 34 has again been permitted to close, the slot 38 in the link 31 avoiding any chance of the operator having her hand pinched by .the closing movement of the top section 38. In the open position, the table ii is firmly supported by the leg l3 at its outer end and by the links it and 2i at its inner end.

To close the machine, the outer end of the table is lifted and the links 20 and H cause it to swing to a vertical position within the cabinet. The springs 30 counterbalance the weight of the moving parts and also'tend to cause the moving parts to move to their closed position when they approach such position.

During the closing movement, the top section 34 P is raised and lowered to provide the clearance suitable height to serve as a table, or it may be wheeled to an out-of-the-way place on casters.

I claim as my invention:

Ln ironing machine comprising, in combination, a cabinet, ironing mechanism, a. sup-. 7

horizontal position extending outwardly of the cabinet to a vertical position within the cabinet, and a spring attached to one of said links'for counterbalancing said mechanism and support,

said spring having such angular relation tosaid one link when said mechanism and support are in a vertical position as to tend to cause it to swing inwardly of the cabinet whereby said 'mechanism and support tend to remain in 'the vertical position. I

2. An ironing machine comprising, in combination, a cabinet, ironing mechanism, a support for said mechanism, a pair of links for moving said mechanism and support from a horizontal position extending outwardly of the cabinet to a vertical position within the cabinet, and a spring attached to one of said links and normally tending to resist movement of said mechanism and support to the vertical position but becoming ineffective to offer such resistance when said mechanism and support approach the vertical position.

3. An ironing machine comprising, in combination, a cabinet having a base, ironing mechanism,

a table supporting said mechanism and swing able from a horizontal position extending outwardly oi the cabinet to a vertical position within the cabinet, means for swingably supporting said table and attached to the inner or lower end thereof, a foldable leg attached to the outer end of said table, and an actuator for said leg adapted to abut the base of the cabinet when the table is moved to its verticalposition to fold said leg.

4. An ironing machine comprising, in combination, a cabinet having a base, ironing mecha-.

nism, a table supporting said mechanism and swingable from a horizontal position extending outwardly of the cabinet .to a vertical position within the cabinet, means for swingably supporting said table and attached to the inner or lower end thereof, a leg hinged to the outer end of said table, a collapsible brace for said leg, and a rod connected to said brace and movable into abut-- ment with the cabinet base to collapse said brace and swing said leg flat against the table.

5. An ironing machine comprising, in combination, a cabinet, ironing mechanism, a table supporting said mechanism and swingable from a horizontal position extending outwardly of the cabinet to a position within the cabinet, means for swingably supporting said table, a leg hinged to the outer end of said table, a, brace for said leg comprising a pair of members pivoted to each other and respectively pivoted to the leg and the table, and means for moving said leg to and from a supporting position comprising a rod extending under said table and connected to one of said members, said rod being adapted to abut against said cabinet to close the leg, and a spring urging said rod in a direction to open said leg.

6. An ironing machine comprising, in combination, ironing mechanism, a cabinet to enclose said mechanism, means for moving said mechanism into and out of the cabinet through one side thereof by a swinging movement in a vertical plane, said cabinet having a hinged top to provide suillcient opening for the swinging movement of said mechanism, and means for automatically opening and closing said hinged top during said swinging movement in either direction, a

7. An ironing machine comprising, in combination, a cabinet, ironing mechanism swingable into and out of said cabinet, said cabinet having an open side through which said mechanism swings and having a movable wall adjoining said side to provide space for the swinging movement of said mechanism whereby the size of the cabinet vmay be the minimum for a given size of the mechanism, and means for automatically moving said wall to an open position and back to a closed position upon swinging said mechanism in either direction.

8. An ironing machine comprising, in combination, a cabinet having an open side, ironing mechanism swingable into and out of said cabinet through said open side, said cabinet having a'hinged wall adjoining said open side to provide space for the swinging movement of said mechanism, means for swingably supporting said ironing mechanism including a lever, and means actuated by said lever for opening and closing said hinged wall during the movement of said mechanism in either direction.

9. An ironing machine comprising, in combination, a cabinet having an open side, ironing mechanism swingable into and out of said cabinet through said open side, said cabinet having a hinged wall adjoining said open side to provide space for the swinging movement of said mechanism, means for swingably supporting said ironing mechanism including a link, an arm secured to said link for swinging movement therewith, and a link connecting said arm and said well ing movement of said mechanism including a.

lost-motion connection whereby said top wall may remain partially open.

11. In a structure of the character described, the combination with a cabinet, of an elongated instrument or a like unit movable into and out of the cabinet and adapted to occupy a vertical position in the cabinet and a horizontal position outside of the cabinet, link means pivotally connected at opposite ends to the cabinet and to the unit adjacent its center of gravity, for supporting and guiding said unit in its movement from one position to the other, a pair of transversely spaced apart links pivotally connected at their corresponding opposite ends respectively to' the cabinet and to the rear end of said unit for assisting in guiding the latter in its movement from one position to another. and a supporting leg hingedly connected to the unit adjacent the forward end for supporting said end of said unit when it is withdrawn from the cabinet.

- ARTHUR H. PETERS. 

